[[Bob Goodlatte|Goodlatte]] noted that it was part of the [[U.S. House|House]] [[Republican]]s’ “step-by-step” strategy on immigration reform.<ref name="kids"/> So far, his [[United States House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary|committee]] has passed four bills that overhaul some section of the nation’s immigration laws, while the [[United States House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security|House Homeland Security Committee]] has passed a bill on border security.<ref name="kids"/>

[[Bob Goodlatte|Goodlatte]] noted that it was part of the [[U.S. House|House]] [[Republican]]s’ “step-by-step” strategy on immigration reform.<ref name="kids"/> So far, his [[United States House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary|committee]] has passed four bills that overhaul some section of the nation’s immigration laws, while the [[United States House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security|House Homeland Security Committee]] has passed a bill on border security.<ref name="kids"/>

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====Democratic members meeting with labor groups====

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The four [[Democratic]] members of the Gang of Eight announced that they would meet with prominent labor groups and pro-reform immigration organizations on July 24, 2013 to coordinate efforts heading into the August recess.<ref name="labor">[http://www.politico.com/story/2013/07/gang-of-eight-democrats-labor-groups-94618.html ''Politico'' "Gang of Eight Democrats huddle with labor groups" Accessed July 24, 2013]</ref> Among the groups participating in the meeting are America’s Voice, the AFL-CIO and the National Immigration Law Center.<ref name="labor"/>

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The meeting follows a similar session between all senators in the Gang of Eight, except for [[Marco Rubio]] (R), and a variety of business lobbyists, which triggered some backlash, particularly with the lawmakers’ strategy of listing more than 100 House Republicans who could be persuaded to vote for immigration reform.<ref name="labor"/> One lobbyist who participated in the meeting said the session was not very welcomed by the business community.<ref name="labor"/>

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Another meeting with that same group had been scheduled and subsequently called off. An aide to a Gang of Eight senator said Thursday’s session was cancelled because of “scheduling concerns.” “The dialogue between the members of the Gang of Eight and the groups will still continue,” the aide said.<ref name="labor"/>

The Gang of Eight in the context of Congress has two meanings. Most recently, the Gang of Eight has been used in reference to immigration reform and includes eight of the most influential Senators, with four from each party.[1][2]

The Intelligence Oversight Act of 1980 mandated that the CIA “fully and currently [inform]” Congressional oversight committees of their activities including “any significant anticipated intelligence activity.”[3]

In special cases, the Act authorized the President to brief only the majority and minority leaders of each chamber as well as the chairmen and ranking minority members of the Intelligence Committees. It is this group that is informally known as the "Gang of Eight" of Congress.[3]

Members

U.S. Senate

Within the U.S. Senate, there is a "Gang of Eight" pertaining to immigration reform made up of eight of the most influential senators, with four from each party, including:

Issues

Immigration reform bill

Members of the Senate in early May 2013 started targeting as many as two dozen Republicans for a show-of-force majority, which they believe may be the only way an immigation reform bill will have the momentum to force the U.S. House to act.[3] Proponents of immigration reform are looking for votes beyond the usual moderate senators to ones in conservative strongholds such as Utah, Georgia and Wyoming, and targets because they are retiring, representing agricultural states, anxious to get the issue behind the party, important to persuading skittish U.S. HouseRepublicans, or all of the above.[3][1]

4. Setting up a system for admitting future workers (although the term “guest worker” is not used).[2]

In essence, the eight senators refused to accept the idea that the United States will deport any substantial numbers of illegal immigrants already in the country.[2]

On June 4, 2013 Marco Rubio, who helped to craft the immigration reform bill, announced that based upon the current status of the bill, he would not support it.[5] Rubio made it clear that the bill must be amended to included specific enforcement procedures that will prevent another influx of illegal immigrants, and without that he will not support the bill because it would not pass in the House.[5]Rubio changed his opinion of the bill in an appearance on ABC's "This Week" on June 16, 2013, in which he said that he supports the vast majority of what is in the bill and sees the final legislation resolving his concerns.[6] Rubio spoke of the bill saying, "It's an excellent starting point. And I think 95, 96 percent of the bill is in perfect shape and ready to go. But there are elements that need to be improved."[6]

The House of Representatives passed an amendment defunding President Obama's executive order exempting young illegal immigrants from deportation on June 6, 2013. This was the first immigration-related vote in the House this year. It comes as a test before the Gang of Eight's immigration bill makes it to the House.[7]

Statement from CBO

On June 18, 2013 the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a statement that the Senate Gang of Eight’s immigration bill will significantly reduce the federal budget deficit in its first two decades if it becomes law.[8] In the first ten years, the immigration bill is said to reduce the federal deficit by $175 billion, according to the CBO, by cutting the deficit by $197 billion in the first decade, but implementing the bill would cost about $22 billion. In the second 10-year period, the deficit is said to decrease by an additional $700 billion, according to the CBO.[8]

Cornyn amendment tabled

The amendment proposed by John Cornyn (R) was rejected by the Senate in a roll call vote on June 20, 2013.[9][10] By a 54-43 vote, mostly along party lines, the Senate approved a decision to table the amendment.[10] The amendment would required a 90 percent border apprehension rate, increased surveillance, a biometric exit system and national E-Verify system as prerequisites for newly documented immigrants to gain green-card status.[10]

Vice President Joe Biden, acting in his constitutional capacity as head of the Senate, took the rare step of presiding over the roll call.[12] During the vote Senators voted from their seats in the chamber, which is also an unusual occurrence.[12]

If enacted, the bill would create a 13-year path to citizenship for most undocumented immigrants, while raising the cap on visas for high skilled workers and establishing a new visa program for low skilled workers on America's farms.[11][12]

A recently added border security amendment, introduced by Sens.John Hoeven (R) of North Dakota and Bob Corker (R) of Tennessee, would require 20,000 more border agents, complete 700 miles of fence along the boundary with Mexico and deploy $3.2 billion in technology upgrades similar to equipment used by U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.[12] The amendment also strengthens eligibility verification and border entry-exit controls.[12]

Most undocumented immigrants would be eligible for permanent residency only after the five conditions have been met and verified by the Department of Homeland Security.[12][11]

Reid said Boehner’s adherence to the “Hastert Rule” requiring a majority of Republican caucus votes to move legislation is emblematic of the lower chamber’s dysfunction.[14]

“Eventually he’ll be forced to take the bill that we passed here, or the country will be left with no immigration reform at all. Which is a bad, bad outcome. I remind the speaker there is no shame in passing bills both parties can support,” Reid said.[14]

Since the Senate passed its comprehensive immigration reform bill, HouseRepublicans have the party on their shoulders: if they can’t pass a bill, it could hurt the party's relationship with Hispanic voters for years to come, and cement the idea that the party is a roadblock to bipartisan legislation.[16]

A rare coalition with groups from across the political spectrum are looking for ways to convince member of the House to act.[17] The heads of the conservative American Action Forum, Americans of Tax Reform and the American Conservative Union sent a joint letter to congressional leaders calling for passage of a comprehensive bill. Labor groups are dispatching members to congressional offices and running ads in a dozen House districts.[17] The Evangelical Immigration Table, a coalition of Christian groups are holding a gathering in Washington D.C. in July 2013.[17]

Pelosi calls for own House bill

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said on July 10, 2013 that the House should determine its own comprehensive immigration bill separate from the one passed by the Senate.[18]

Pelosi stated, “I always support the prerogatives of the House, and I want the House to have a bill that goes to conference where the debate will take place. The Senate passing a bill gives leverage to those who want a bill in the House because the pressure is on them to do something if you want to exercise the prerogatives of the House. So we view it as a positive step.”[18]

Her comments came at a news conference with four members of the border caucus — Reps.Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Filemon Vela (D-Texas), Beto O'Rourke (D-Texas) and Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) — who voiced strong concerns about the security provisions included in the Senate bill. Calling it a “militarization” of the border, members pointed to the volume of trade between the U.S. and Mexico as being at risk if border security goes too far.[18]

Kids Act

Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R), the second-ranking HouseRepublican, and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R) are working on legislation that would craft a path to legalization for young immigrants who were brought to the United States illegally as children, tentatively titled the Kids Act, as of July 12, 2013.[19]

Though its objective is similar to that of the DREAM Act, a bill that would allow eligible young, undocumented immigrants to obtain citizenship, the "Kids Act" version is certain to have key differences from that legislation, as both Cantor and Goodlatte voted against the DREAM Act in December 2010.[19]

In a statement Goodlatte said, “These children came here through no fault of their own and many of them know no other home than the United States. This is one component of immigration reform — any successful reform plan must improve our legal immigration programs, strengthen border security and the interior enforcement of our immigration laws, and find a way to fairly deal with those who are currently in the country unlawfully.”[19]

Democratic members meeting with labor groups

The four Democratic members of the Gang of Eight announced that they would meet with prominent labor groups and pro-reform immigration organizations on July 24, 2013 to coordinate efforts heading into the August recess.[20] Among the groups participating in the meeting are America’s Voice, the AFL-CIO and the National Immigration Law Center.[20]

The meeting follows a similar session between all senators in the Gang of Eight, except for Marco Rubio (R), and a variety of business lobbyists, which triggered some backlash, particularly with the lawmakers’ strategy of listing more than 100 House Republicans who could be persuaded to vote for immigration reform.[20] One lobbyist who participated in the meeting said the session was not very welcomed by the business community.[20]

Another meeting with that same group had been scheduled and subsequently called off. An aide to a Gang of Eight senator said Thursday’s session was cancelled because of “scheduling concerns.” “The dialogue between the members of the Gang of Eight and the groups will still continue,” the aide said.[20]

Notable support for the immigration reform bill

In addition to numerous Democratic senators, notable Republicans and Republican groups have announced their support for the bill.
They include[21]: